2 Timothy 4:3
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- KJV
- For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
- WEB
- For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts,
- ASV
- For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
- DARBY
- For the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching; but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear;
- BLB
- For there will be a season when they will not bear with sound teaching, but according to [their] own passions, having an itching ear, they will heap up teachers to themselves,
- ÅB
- For det skal komme en tid da de ikke skal tåle den sunde lære, men etter sine egne lyster ta seg selv lærere i hopetall, fordi det klør dem i øret,
- OTB
- For det skal komme en tid da de ikke skal tåle den sunne lære; men etter sine egne lyster skal de ta seg lærere i mengdevis, etter det som klør i øret,
- B1930
- For det skal komme en tid da de ikke skal tåle den sunde lære, men efter sine egne lyster ta sig selv lærere i hopetall, fordi det klør dem i øret,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Peter 2:1–3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Read in context2 Timothy 3:1–6
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
Read in context1 Timothy 4:1–3
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
Read in context1 Timothy 1:10
for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
Read in contextGalatians 4:16
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Read in contextJohn 3:19–21
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
Read in contextJeremiah 23:16–17
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Read in contextJeremiah 6:16–17
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’
Read in context